Watchdog bans host of ads for prescription-only weight-loss medications
In December, the ASA warned businesses and individuals who were targeting members of the public with ads for the medicines.
It said no-one operating in the industry could say they had not been warned that weight-loss prescription-only medicines 'must not be promoted to the public'.
The ads banned this week include an Instagram post by Collins, posted on January 6, which promoted the weight-loss service Yazen.
In a video, Collins stated: 'I'm starting this year two sizes down, thanks to Yazen's weight loss app and medication. It's really quick and easy to get started with Yazen, it has absolutely changed my life… I finally found something that actually I lose weight on.'
She continued: 'Yes, there's, you know, reports and stuff. And I'm not telling anyone to go on this medication, but it is prescribed on the NHS.'
Two complainants challenged whether the ad breached rules because it promoted prescription-only medication to the public.
Yazen said the post had been intended to share information about their 'holistic, responsible approach to weight loss', and had not been intended to focus solely on medication.
Following notification of the complaint, and in agreement with Collins, the post has been amended to remove any reference to prescription-only medications.
Yazen said they would ensure that future posts were compliant with the advertising code.
Collins said she took her responsibilities under the advertising code seriously and strove to comply with them.
She accepted that her posts had promoted the Yazen weight-loss service and app, and said Yazen would approve any marketing materials she might post in future, and she would follow any guidance that the ASA provided.
The ASA also banned an ad for prescription-only weight-loss medication posted by CheqUp, which read: 'No GP or pharmacy visit, just a 2 minute online consultation.'
CheqUp told the ASA that they believed the ad had been created in line with what had become widespread industry practice in the weight-loss sector.
They assured the ASA that the ad would not appear again.
Other providers who have had their ads banned include pharmacyonline.co.uk, HealthExpress.co.uk, Juniper UK, Cloud Pharmacy, and Phlo Clinic and SemaPen.
The ASA said the rulings established the advertising of named weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy, Mounjaro, Ozempic and Saxenda was banned, as was the use of various claims such as 'obesity treatment jab' and 'weight loss pen'.
In April, the ASA said a search in January found around 1,800 unique paid-for weight-loss ads which were identified as potentially advertising a prescription-only medicine.
It has published a joint Enforcement Notice with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and General Pharmaceutical Council, making clear that ads for named weight-loss prescription-only medications are prohibited, including online, on social media and by influencers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
It's time Scotland's NHS got into the digital age
Anyone who's spent time in a Scottish hospital in recent years may have noticed pagers continue to be widely used by clinical staff. Figures show health boards have spent at least £4.6million on the ancient devices since 2019. Which begs the question, why? Surely, in the 21st century and the era of WiFi, a more up-to-date digital device could be issued to staff working in hospitals? It doesn't seem fair that nurses are reliant on pagers while the vast majority of the patients in their care will own smartphones. Bureaucracy in the health service is legendary but the multiple levels of managers running the organisation must surely be able to come up with a better solution. And that's not to mention the 13 fax machines still being used in some arm of the Scottish NHS. This isn't down to a lack of money. The health service will receive a record £21billion from the Scottish Government this year alone. If money can't be found from that to end the reliance on 80s communication devices, senior NHS figures deserve to be asked why. It's another reminder that, for all the respect Scots have for the health service, it is frequently failing to offer the standard of care all patients should expect. Pagers may not be the most pressing issue facing hospitals but they illustrate a wider story. The NHS needs reform, as well as adequate funding. It can't continue to rely on antiquated devices, no matter how small. Air solution It's deeply concerning that a summer of strikes at Glasgow Airport look set to go ahead. Around 100 workers, including airside support officers, engineers and managers, will down tools in a two-day walkout in an ongoing dispute over pay. Unite, the union representing the workers, said its members were struggling with chronic fatigue and understaffing. Members will walkout for 48 hours from 6am on Thursday, July 24, until 6am on Saturday, July 26. The disruption is expected to affect thousands of holidaymakers setting off on their summer getaways. It's on company bosses at the airport to get back around the table with union reps and iron out these issues. It's not fair on the thousands of Scots holidaymakers who have saved hard all year to have their travel plans thrown up in the air. It's vital a resolution is found to satisfy workers and passengers alike.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
NHS in Scotland 'stuck in analogue age' as health boards shell out millions on pagers
Labour claimed the continued reliance on the devices proved the SNP Government was failing to equip the NHS for the 21st century. Scotland's NHS is " stuck in an analogue age" after it was revealed that health boards have shelled out millions of pounds on pagers in recent years. The devices were widely used in the 1980s and 1990s for instant communication before being replaced long ago by smartphones. Scottish Labour said the continued reliance on the devices proved the SNP Government was failing to equip the NHS for the 21st century. Data obtained by the party found health boards had spent at least £4,596,608 on pagers since 2018/19, with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spending almost £1.8 million and NHS Lothian spending close to £1 million. But the total figure is expected to be higher as some health boards failed to respond to a freedom of information request. Spending on pagers increased in at least seven health boards, while rising by 8 percent overall between 2018/19 and 2024/ Labour is now calling for improvements to hospital WiFi to reduce reliance on outdated technology like pagers and improve service delivery. At least 13 fax machines — used for sending messages instantly before emails — are still in use in Scottish hospitals. Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour health spokeswoman, said: "The UK Labour government is setting out a blueprint for NHS England's digital future, but the SNP, Scotland's NHS is still stuck in an analogue age. "The SNP has been in power for as long as the iPhone has existed, yet all analogue John has invented is excuses. Getting reliable WiFi in Scottish hospitals is the bare minimum the Scottish Government should do to bring our NHS into the 21 st century. "While English patients will soon be able to book appointments by app, the SNP can only promise a pilot for dermatology appointments in Lanarkshire. "Only Scottish Labour can take our NHS out of the SNP's analogue age — that's the new direction Scotland needs." It comes after Wes Streeting last week branded John Swinney an "analogue politician". The UK Health Secretary took a swipe at the First Minister as plans were announced to expand the NHS app available for patients in England. The Scottish version has yet to launch. Streeting said: "The UK Labour government is embracing technology to deliver a better NHS for patients and their families, giving them more control and transparency over their treatment. "In John Swinney the SNP have an analogue politician in a digital age and patients in Scotland are missing out. The SNP have record funding and complete control of the NHS in Scotland. "There are no excuses for [not having an app in place] and it just shows why Scotland can't afford a third decade of the SNP." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'This spend of £4.6 million since 2018/19 must be seen in the context of an NHS budget that was more than £100 billion over the same period. 'While innovation and use of digital technology is essential to ensure the health and social care system's long-term sustainability, health boards should deploy the technology that enables NHS staff to best serve the needs of patients. "We expect health boards to embrace the latest tools, but also understand that pagers may be more practical and preferred in some cases. 'We have already taken significant steps through our Operational Improvement Plan and Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework to set out clear actions to harness digital innovation, improve access to treatment, shift the balance of care into the community and strengthen prevention.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Extreme health trend sees Brits dodging a balanced diet for one food group
While everyone has become fibre conscious, upping your fibre intake straight away may be doing more harm than good according to an expert - and this is how you can relieve your symptoms Fibre has become the latest wellness fix taking over social media - but how much is too much? We've gone from being protein obsessed to fibre obsessed, leading to the fibermaxxing trend, which sees TikTok users loading up on their fibre intake and often taking it to the extreme. Fibremaxxing has taken off thanks to the knowledge that many of us aren't getting enough of it in our diet. Eating lots of fibre is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer, and the NHS recommends we intake 30g a day. This can be through certain foods such as wholegrains, wholeweats, brown rice, beans, lentils or chickpeas and fresh fruit. While it's important to have a balanced diet, and making sure we have the right fibre intake, leading nutritionist, Rob Hobson, warns that we shouldn't go all in straight away and start fibermaxxing. As most adults are only eating an average of about 20g day, we need to find ways of increasing our intake. Best breakfast food to eat to lower cholesterol without any medication However it may not be a good idea to overload your body with fibre straight away according to Hobson, who said: "If you go from a low to a very high fibre intake too quickly, it can lead to bloating, gas, cramps, and even interfere with the absorption of minerals like iron, calcium, and zinc. 'People with sensitive guts or conditions like IBS may also find that high-fibre diets, especially those rich in fermentable fibres, can trigger symptoms," he told Bio Kult, UK supplement brand. Signs that you've had too much fibre Common symptoms of too much fibre include: bloating abdominal pain flatulence constipation temporary weight gain intestinal blockage in people with Crohn's disease reduced blood sugar levels, which is important to know if you have diabetes There are two main types of fibre, and each type plays a different role in digestion. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to your stool and can help your food pass quickly through the stomach and intestines according to Healthline. It can also help to balance the pH in your intestine, and may prevent diverticulitis, an inflammation of the intestine, as well as colon cancer. For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. While soluble fibre attracts water, which then creates a 'gel-like' substance with the food as it gets digested. This slows down digestion and will help you feel full faster - and can help with weight management. It may also help lower your risk of heart disease, regulate your blood sugar, and help reduce LDL cholesterol. What to do if you've had too much fibre If you feel like you have had too much fibre, you can relieve your symptoms in a few ways, including: Drink plenty of water. Eat a bland diet. Remove fiber and fibre fortified foods from your diet until you feel better Engage in light physical activities, like walking, as often as possible. Consider keeping an online diary of your food intake to help you see how much fiber you're getting each day. Spread your fibre rich foods out throughout the day Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
